Summer’s gone in for hibernation, and just as the seasons change, so do our looks. This fall, as you prepare to revamp your wardrobe with “it” bags and chic coats, consider adding another hot accessory to your list of splurges: a fresh new hair color.

A new hair color can have as lasting an affect on your fall “look” as your new pair of flat boots. By heeding the advice of hair specialist Sharon Dorram-Krause, you’ll be well on your way to achieving a head-turning hue. As the former Senior Colorist and Color Consultant for John Frieda, Dorram-Krause filled up her chair with a long list of clients including Renée Zellweger, Kate Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Reese Witherspoon just to name a few. She’s switched salons, but she’s still a sough-after expert by top fashion magazines (InStyle, Allure and Harper’s Bazaar) and fashionistas in search of drop dead gorgeous hair. We caught up with the hair extraordinaire, who shared her tips for achieving your best hair color this fall.

THE TRENDS

This season, we’ll say goodbye to striped chunky highlighted pieces and hello to enhanced, all-over color. “There is a current trend or mood right now and it’s richening your hair color for fall,” said Dorram-Krause, “it’s bringing out your hair color.” The hair specialist notes that since we’re off the summer we’ll see blondes going strawberry blonde and we’ll start seeing a lot of chocolate browns, amber browns, and low lighting.

While trends are compelling, they ultimately come and go. While you may love Cameron Diaz’s new dark shade it might not compliment your specific skin tone, eye color, and other features that you should keep in mind when picking a color. “Hair color is like finding the right shade of lipstick. You’re not going to change to purple just because you see all the magazines writing about it,” said Dorram-Krause. This hair specialist prefers to look at hair color from a “couture individual point of view.” It’s all about finding what’s best for you.

FINDING “THE” COLOR

So how do you find the best color that’s going to make your hair pop this fall? Before you do anything, put that box color down. Since poorly applied hair color can be damaging to hair and hard to correct, Dorram-Krause urges you to skip the over the counter drugstore colors, and leave the process to the professionals.

“It’s very difficult for an individual to go to the store and pick out a box color and make the right selection that fits them and actually apply it correctly,” she said. “Box color is ok if you live in a remote area and don’t have the resources, other than that, home color is really a crap shoot.” Even SHE won’t do her own color!

Instead of gambling with your mane, trust a stylist to switch your color. Not only can they help you choose the right color that compliments your features, they can also apply your color so that your hair comes out glowing and radiant, not reminiscent of the botch job you did when you were in Junior High.

Even once you’ve found a professional (and BeautyNewsNYC has reviewed many a New York salon that can leave you looking your best) take your time when making drastic color changes. “When you choose a hair color you’re really making a commitment. For instance, when you go light to dark, color is staying in for about 6 months.” This isn’t an impulse decision! In fact Dorram-Krause suggests “testing out” different colors by playing with wigs before you take the plunge. Tthis is a practice that her A-list celebrities have come to depend on. “Very few celebrities will do a radical change for a role that they have. They’ll do wigs.”

THE UPKEEP

Taking care of your new hair color is just as important as finding the right one. Besides avoiding box color like the plague, Dorram-Krause suggests that you also skip any products that are heavy on alcohol (including mouse and hair spray), because these products can strip your hair color. She notes that red-head’s color tends to strip faster, so red-heads will need the most nutrients.

“John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze is another great product, although I wouldn’t use it on all types of hair. ‘Honey’ for blondes is one of the best: when blonde gets to pale it will keep it golden.”

THE NEXT STEP

Make an appointment!
If you’re looking to get in to the chair of Sharon Durram-Krause, you can currently contact her at Salih Salon (20 East 67th Street, 212-249-0143). But act now! This hair specialist is hard enough to book on a regular day (she sees 25-30 women daily and the lead time to get an appointment is at least two weeks), but since so many people pile in to salons post-summer, this is an especially busy time of year. Once you’ve nailed an appointment, you can trust that your hair will get the attention it deserves: